Haneen Ahmad AL Azzam
Luminus Technical University College, Jordan
Posters & Accepted Abstracts: Gen Med
Introduction: Tele-ophthalmology has been suggested as a potential solution for increasing access to eye care services in underserved communities. This systematic review aims to evaluate the effectiveness and feasibility of tele-ophthalmology in community eye health. Methods: A systematic search of electronic databases was conducted to identify relevant studies. The inclusion criteria were randomized controlled trials, non-randomized controlled trials and observational studies that evaluated the effectiveness or feasibility of tele-ophthalmology in community eye health. Quality assessment was performed using the cochrane risk of bias tool for randomized controlled trials and the ROBINS-I tool for non-randomized controlled trials and observational studies. Results: Fourteen studies met the inclusion criteria, including seven randomized controlled trials, four non-randomized controlled trials and three observational studies. The studies evaluated the use of teleophthalmology in a range of community settings, including rural and urban areas. The results suggest that tele-ophthalmology is effective in improving access to eye care services, increasing the detection of eye diseases and reducing unnecessary referrals. Additionally, tele-ophthalmology was found to be feasible and acceptable to patients and healthcare providers. Conclusions: Tele-ophthalmology is a promising approach for increasing access to eye care services in underserved communities. Future research should focus on the long-term sustainability of tele-ophthalmology programs, cost-effectiveness and the integration of tele-ophthalmology into existing healthcare systems.
